The Cavinti local government unit (LGU) is now officially a partner in the PCAARRD-funded National R&D Project for Watershed Management with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the LGU and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the lead implementing agency of the project.
The MOU sealed the partnership between the municipality and the project implementers as well as with the Council.
Cavinti was chosen as a partner because the project’s automatic weather station is installed at Camarin Resort in Caliraya, which is a barangay of the municipality. The equipment is among the instruments installed in the selected watersheds, which is needed for data gathering.
In Laguna, the Bombongan-Lewin Watershed in Pagsanjan and Lumban was chosen as the project site. Other selected watersheds include the Quiaoit River Watershed in Batac, Ilocos Norte and Saug Watershed in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley.
With the MOU, the Council has high hopes in enhancing the sustainability of the watershed management strategies in the locality even after the project has ended.
The National Project on Watershed Management seeks to generate information and technology capable of assessing a watershed’s health and incorporate community participation in its protection management.